HOVER Craft, the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes winner, who did not raise any hairs in the Jamaica 2,000 Guineas, but also a strong candidate for the Jamaica Derby, will continue his prep for the upcoming Classic event against another competitive Overnight Allowance field of older horses at Caymanas Park today.

The Overnight Allowance run for a purse of $715,000 will take the place of a designated feature going 1,600 metres and has attracted a sturdy field of 12. The event closes the 10-race card and is scheduled to go to post at approximately 5:00 pm with first post at 12:15 pm.

The only three-year-old among the field, Hover Craft, who could only manage fourth over 1,400 metres in his first race since the 2,000 Guineas, will again face another formidable bunch of older horses, but will be seen to greater advantage going 200 metres farther.

Hover Craft was beaten by stablemate New Kingston, as well as Uppa Tune, two down-in-class American-bred horses, and he will again face two other formidable foes in 2011 St Leger winner Commanding Chief and the luckless American-bred Reasonable Press. The latter narrowly lost the King’s Plate Open Allowance feature on last after suffering interference in his drive for the wire.

Prepared for the races by champion and leading trainer Wayne DaCosta for owner Elizabeth DaCosta, Hover Craft is expected to be in much better shape for this contest.

By He’stherealthing out of Royal Pizzaz (Royal Minister) bred by Mark & Susan Wates, Hover Craft has demonstrated in the past that he is well suited to this extended sprint run and beyond and could extend his more experienced rival with a more determined run under a mere 52.0kg. Former champion jockey Dick Cardenas, his regular rider, will remain in the irons.

He is expected to be severely tested by the down-in-grade Commanding Chief and Reasonable Press, who are also ideally suited to the distance.

Commanding Chief, a highly-talented five-year-old chestnut gelding trained by Everal Francis has the best time over the distance at 1:38.3 and even at 56.0kg, at this level, he is lethal. Owned by Doks Stables, the five-year-old chestnut horse by War Marshall out of She Knows Beau (Beau Genius) bred by Paul Chen has worked enterprisingly to meet this engagement and with the wily Shane Ellis called to the saddled for the first time, Commanding Chief could be off the winning mark in his first contest this year.

Reasonable Press, prepared by Philip Feanny, has failed to win a race in his last 12 starts. It is not for the wants of trying that this versatile five-year-old horse has not won a race. His racing record shows that he has always found someone better but that is among the top-rated horses in the country.

For this season, the chestnut horse by Mass Media out of Reasonable Thought (Peaks And Valleys) bred by B&B Bloodstock, Marty Hughes & Desmond Ryan in the USA, Reasonable Press has taken a drop in class and after his fighting run on last, could now win among Overnight Allowance.

Winston Griffiths, who has partnered Reasonable Press in four of his last 12 starts and was aboard on last, looks to have a better than even chance of going one better. However, were Commanding Chief to run up to his preparation for the event, then it might not be a race at all.